Broadband Availability in the Workplace

Building on previous work examining broadband availability across different geographies by population, this report examines broadband availability by job location. As in Broadband Availability, Beyond the Rural/Urban Divide, this report divides the United States into five categories based on degree of urbanization. Rather than examining broadband and general population levels, however, this report assesses the impact of broadband availability in the workplace. Virtually all jobs have access to very basic broadband speeds. However, jobs located in more rural communities have less access to high-speed broadband than more urban communities, for both upload and download speeds, and the gaps in availability generally are greater at higher speeds.

This brief also examines two industries – manufacturing and information. Manufacturing jobs, which are relatively concentrated in more rural communities, have less access to higher speed broadband than information jobs, which are concentrated in more urbanized communities.

About the Economics & Statistics Administration

The Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) plays three key roles within the Department of Commerce (DOC). ESA provides timely economic analysis, disseminates national economic indicators, and oversees the U.S. Census Bureau (Census) and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). In this latter role, ESA works closely with the leadership at BEA and Census on high priority management, budget, employment, and risk management issues, integrating the work of these agencies with the priorities and requirements of the Department of Commerce and other government entities.